The movie is well made. It looks good. It feels good.
Still, there are things that are missing. We never really see what made Lucien Laurin a great trainer. Outside of him making the decision to run Secretariat harder in the weeks leading up to the Belmont, we never see him train the horse. We don't know what techniques he employed. We don't see the methods he used. For the most part, he's a bystander, cheering the horse on as he runs.
Same goes for Eddie Sweat. Outside of him soaping up the horse in one scene, we don't see any of his contributions.
The subplot about Penny having to choose between her family and the horse didn't have the emotional heft it should have.
However, the theme about not being afraid of anything and running your own race rings true. That becomes the heart of the tale and its message is stirring. It's the reason why the film wins you over.
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